“It’s a rolling descent down into Bridport, with some pretty sharp little climbs up. Between melting snow drifts I am soft pedalling at 20mph and wondering what the fuss was about. My ultimate destination of Bridport is still some eight miles away.įinally, over the summit, the sea lit up by the afternoon sun, I ease off and let the speed build. The steepest 50 yards out of the way, I have a go at remounting - easier said than done on a near-20 per cent hill. Not that it really matters when you’re walking at 2mph. My westward bearing means the pleasure of a prevailing wind in my face. > Eight reasons why cycling in Dorset is absolutely great The tarmac is smooth and although being a B road it can be a little on the busy side, it’s far from intimidating. With its incessant ramps and stunning sea views, it quickly made it onto the shortlist.
The B3157 Abbotsbury to Bridport road on the Jurassic Coast, combines the perfect ‘Toughest Roads’ ingredients. “It’s a massive, fairly steep climb out of Abbotsbury…” CC Weymouth chair Andrew Preston’s words ring repeatedly in my ears as I trudge up a 20 per cent ramp, musing how I’d brought this all on myself. What in God’s name had possessed me to go in search of Britain’s toughest roads and then ride them? I didn’t even have the excuse of being taken unawares by the gradient.
